Vast reserves of natural gas in the Martian crust served as a cattleprod to quickly establish colonies on Mars. While it was once assumed that radium and solar power technology would keep Mars dependent upon Earth industries for the long term, the discovery of natural gas turned the tables in favor of a newly established Mars Federation.      Martian colonies quickly united with the aid of rovers such as the one pictured above. These natural gas powered vehicles have a range of 800 miles and can transport 18 individuals with limited luggage. Full utilization of natural gas came with the invention and patenting (at Burroughs Station) of fiber-wound titanium and steel machined vessels. These gas containment systems, most rated at 9,000 PSI capacity, were quickly proven to be safe and dependable. Below: a prototype 9000 PSI filament-wrapped cylinder designed by Burroughs engineers.